At a time when half-cooked theories based on flimsy arguments are being put forward questioning the very rationale of the Two-Nation Theory that was the basis of the creation of Pakistan, it is heartening to hear Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani hold out the firm assurance, “We will not spare any sacrifice to protect and propagate it to the next generation.”
Mr Gilani was addressing the audience at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Aiwan-i-Quaid-i-Azam being constructed by Nazria-i-Pakistan Trust at Lahore. Preceding him at the ceremony, Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif had, in his speech, expressed the belief that the new generations should be made aware of the thoughts of the Quaid to give shape of an Islamic country to Pakistan. The Aiwan, he stressed, was not a name; it would function as an Ideological University of Pakistan.
A strong reaffirmation of the philosophy of the Quaid when the nation is in a state of bewilderment because of the multiple crises it is facing was all the more necessary. The Two-Nation Theory emerged as the Quaid, a long-time champion of Hindu-Muslim unity, became totally despaired at the inveterate and most unreasonable enmity of the Hindus of the subcontinent against their fellow countrymen, the Muslims. He then strove to achieve the goal of a separate homeland carved out of the then India for the Muslims where they could live working on the golden principles of Islam, with justice and the spirit of welfare of the people ruling the land. It was to be a democratic, modern, Islamic welfare state. Mr Gilani asserted, “My government is working according to the vision of the Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah…..
Pakistan is not just a piece of land, rather it is the name of an ideological state, which has its basis grounded in the Two-Nation Theory.” The Quaid wanted the inequality existing between the rich and the poor to disappear in course of time, and Mr Gilani asked the audience to see how far we had succeeded in living up to his expectations. Unfortunately, the gap has widened and unless necessary remedial steps are taken, it would continue to grow wider.
Since the Aiwan-i-Quaid-i-Azam would provide due impetus to the nation, particularly to the coming generations, to rediscover the logic of the Two-Nation Theory – manifest, though, in the anti-Pakistan policies of the India of even today – both Mr Gilani and Mian Shahbaz paid rich tributes to the Chairman of the NPT Trust Majid Nizami, who has had a lifelong mission of defending and promoting the Two-Nation Theory, for initiating the idea of building the Aiwan. The Prime Minister announced a grant of Rs 200 million for the construction of the Aiwan. Hopefully, the structure would be completed in the shortest possible time and the mission of spreading and popularising the vision of both Allama Iqbal and the Quaid-i-Azam would commence in a systematic way. – Nation
